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***All Rona Shively books are now available on Kindle! See below for details!***Buy your copy of any Rona Shively Story and help someone today. All proceeds go to Higher Ground Ministries to empower women! Get your copy today at Amazon.com!***Help women reach Higher Ground! http://www.highergroundministries.wordpress.com.

Friday, December 28, 2007

I was reading about a virtual book tour that is going on for Judy Moreo, author of You Are More Than Enough Achievement Journal, and I decided that it sounded interesting. The website, Pump Up Your Online Book Promotion, has been a very helpful resource to me and I figured I would participate in the activity they had posted to help promote the tour. The main objective is to discuss the steps I have taken to achieve my dream of being a writer and to make myself understand how all of these steps bring me closer to my dream.

This is a great topic for me because I have made some really big changes in my life to help me reach my goals. For a long time, I was told that writing was impractical and that I should get a "real job." As it turned out, I worked like a dog for over twelve years and was killing myself doing work I couldn't stand. I finally reached my limit in 2005 and quit a rather well-paying "real job" so that I could back up and regroup. That's when I found writing again.

I had originally decided to stay home to spend more time with my daughter and to help myself figure out what was physically wrong with me. Mostly, I found out that the stress of the work I was doing was the big problem. A couple of years after that, I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia and most recently, undifferentiated connective tissue disease. I had been working as a Human Resources Manager and the stress I encountered on a daily basis was simply at odds with the disease. I finally figured out that I never wanted to do that kind of work again after attempting to go back to work in HR and finding that I couldn't even get through a week without running down.

What saved me, and continues to save me is that I started writing again. I pulled out my old binder of half-written stories and started putting some of them together again. I even finished a couple and submitted them to a publisher. To my surprise, I ended up with two published books and two published short stories. I've spent the last couple of years doing what I love and being able to spend time with my daughter. In addition, through writing, I opened up a whole network of friends I didn't have before. The support has been overwhelming and much appreciated.

So, though I may have been frustrated as I took the steps to get things moving, I'm so glad that I am continuing to make this journey as a writer. This is who I am and I'm not turning back. I've had other new writers ask me why it's so tough to promote books and to get out there and sell what you've written and I tell them, "That's what makes it worth doing."

Have a Happy New Year, everyone! I can't wait to see where 2008 takes me.

Where I'll Be...

After a short break in the summer, I'll be at the following locations:

8/11/09 Allen Park Public Library, Allen Park, MI 6:30 p.m.

Looking for something entertaining for your library or bookstore patrons? Looking for a fun way to spend a couple of hours? Do you love mysteries? Then you need to schedule a Tea & Mystery event for your library or bookstore! The fee is minimal and the presentation is fun and informative! Attendees will be given the chance to win great prizes and share their thoughts about the mystery genre and their favorite mystery writers!

“In The Wash is like a 1930’s film noir detective story that had a modern, edgy twist and a female lead.”

Janet Davies, Once Upon a Romance Reviews

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“Under Lock and Key is an enjoyable, fun book! Rona Shively is a delightful character. I loved her off-beat, quirky personality and her outstanding sense of humor.”

Connie Harris, MyShelf.com

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“Talented author Rebecca Benston shows the reader just how complicated life can get suddenly and how people you thought you knew, aren't who you thought they were.”

Anne K. Edwards, Mysteryfiction.net

Contests!

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Rebecca Benston

Writer

My name is Rebecca Benston. I am the author of a mystery series, The Rona Shively Stories. The series currently includes six books: In the Wash, Under Lock and Key,Keeping the Faith, This Side Up, Now You See Me and Thy Will Be Done.

In addition to mystery, I have also written romance and some very mild horror. I'm focusing my efforts more on the spiritual side of life these days and hoping to infuse some of that into the Rona Shively series. I think it will be interesting to see what a little bit of faith can do for a wretch like Rona. If you're looking for a thinking woman's character, you've come to the right place!

I'm the mother of a beautiful little girl named Mya who inspires me on a daily, if not hourly basis. We live in Springfield, OH. When I'm not writing, I am usually working on women's empowerment projects and other things related to helping others become their best version of themselves. I enjoy helping others overcome the obstacles they face.

I'm an audiobook junkie and my favorite fiction authors are Lisa Scottoline, Janet Evanovich, and Sarah Strohmeyer. I'm inspired by them to write fiction that shows women as fiesty, fearless and fabulous individuals who can handle anything life throws their way. I also love to read anything inspirational and some of my favorite non-fiction authors include Beth Moore, Elizabeth Gilbert, Lisa Nichols, Joyce Meyer, Francis Chan and many others.

I have alot of ideas about how things are supposed to work and sometimes, I get a little opinionated here on the blog. What it all boils down to is that I want people to feel better for having read the things I write. I hope you will enjoy my offbeat sense of humor and my unique perspective on life, love, hope, and happiness.

My favorites 2011...

Authors-Beth Moore, Joyce Meyer

Music Group-TobyMac

Magazine-All You, Charisma

Movie-Diary of a Wimpy Kid-Roderick Rules, Kung Fu Panda 2

Television Show-Jentezen Franklin, Enjoying Everyday Life with Joyce Meyer